By Brianna Brinker, Campus News Editor
Are you a student entrepreneur but have no idea where to sell your products? Saint Leo University created a program for future business owners to start selling their unique creations on campus. The boutique opened on Jan. 22 from 11 p.m. to 1 p.m., giving anyone time to come in,look around, and support small business creators.
The boutique is on the first floor of the Student Activity Building. It is called “Made by Us Marketplace.” This idea was created by Graduate Assistant RamyaSri Golakoti and Executive Assistant of Student Affairs Heidi D’Ambrosio.
Golakoti says, “The journey of Made by Us Marketplace began with Ms. Heidi and I. Heidi played a significant role in bringing this space to life through her constant support and belief in the vision. From the very beginning, she trusted the idea and encouraged every step of the process.”
As you walk towards the boutique, you will see a beautifully handmade sign near the door that reads, “Made by Us Marketplace.” The Assistant Director of Dining Services, Robin Lavalle, made this beautiful sign and has other handmade pieces of hers featured in the boutique as well.
Lavalle says, “I first learned about Made by Us Marketplace when I was asked if I would be interested in creating a sign for the outside of the store. Naturally, I wanted to understand the purpose of the space, and as soon as I heard that it was designed for students, faculty, and staff to showcase and sell their creations, my answer was an immediate yes. Heidi D’Ambrosio helped oversee the sign design, offered valuable input, and played a key role in bringing the open marketplace concept to life.”
When you walk in, the room is filled with color, and you can feel the passion and creativity that went into it. Each product was handmade by college students.
This program allows Saint Leo students to get a taste of what the real world is actually like! Students had about two months to create stock for the boutique, design their own QR codes, and set up their displays! This gives them practice for their own future businesses. When sales increase, they will be able to see which products appeal more to the public, and this will give them an idea of what their customers prefer.
“The inspiration behind Made by Us Marketplace came from the desire to create a platform dedicated to creators. While entrepreneurship is growing, not everyone has access to a space to express their creativity or showcase their work. The end goal is not to sell products ourselves, but to provide a supportive space where creators can be seen, valued, and encouraged to share their creativity with the community,” said Golakoti.
There were so many products, many of which were featured on opening day and are in stock as of right now.
The boutique has beaded bracelets that are incredibly unique. They were handmade by “B&B Boutique.” The themes consist of faith and positivity, using charms of crosses and words such as “Joy,” “Faith,” “Grace,” and “Peace.” They looked very personable. They also had Saint Leo bracelets in different colors, such as green, yellow, and pink!
There were also adorable bookmarks that were hand-crocheted. The bookmarks were crosses, flowers, ice cream cones, fruit, and little fairies.
There was a section of beautiful Christian-related crafts. The business is called “Cute! Inspirational Handcrafts,” created by Ms. Yoceline Rincon, the Executive Coordinator of the College of Business. Her products consisted of handmade Bible verse jars that were color-coded based on how you are feeling. She also created rosary bracelets and cross bracelets.
There were also amazing pieces of dorm decor made by “Dashing Designs”, such as candles, a gold lion, a lion door knocker, and a wall planter!
As well as chains with the Saint Leo logo and a Saint Leo lion lightbox for your dorm.
The products made by “Dashing Designs” were created by Lavalle, she says “My inspiration comes from everyday life and from my grandmother, who I grew up watching sew and create clothes, dolls, and so much more. That early exposure to hands‑on creativity shaped the way I see art today.
“I started with shirts and metal signs, then expanded into cups. From there, I invested in two laser machines and began working with wood, and most recently, I added a 3D printer to my setup. Each step has allowed me to explore new materials, new techniques, and new ways to bring ideas to life,” said Lavalle.
Products you can also find are flower hair clips, keychains, bedazzled Saint Leo cups and ducks ,and hand-crafted pottery. The pottery was made by the Associate Chair of English, Music, and the Arts and Instructor II of Humanities, Ms. Pamela DeCius.
The Made by Us Marketplace is officially open and ready for students to come in, shop, have fun, and help start future entrepreneurs’ careers! The hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, so don’t miss a chance to stop by and admire all the hard work that went into this beautiful boutique!
